WEMSIS Rules Development

Public Notification

The Department of Health's (department) Office of Community Health Systems officially filed a CR-101 with the Office of the Code Reviser on August 6, 2020, to open WAC 246-976 Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Care Systems. The WSR number is 20-17-011.

Meeting Announcement

The next stakeholder meeting to discuss rules will be held on March 15, 2022, from 2 to 4 p.m. All stakeholder meetings will be online using Microsoft Teams meeting platform.

In response to the filing, the department has scheduled on-going stakeholder meetings and invites EMS and Trauma committee members and members of the public to discuss amendments.

Online meeting access information:

Join the meeting here

+1 253-372-2181,,58626590# United States, Tacoma

Phone Conference ID: 586 265 90#

Web conferencing and other meeting information is in the meeting announcement alerts sent through GovDelivery. You may sign up to receive alerts by selecting the link below:

Stakeholder Meeting Schedule

All scheduled stakeholder meetings are open public meetings. The schedule provided is intended as a guide for streamlining work and maintaining meeting order. Meeting focus and frequency is subject to change. Please check back frequently for updates.

Date and Time Location Meeting Focus and Materials
November 17, 2020
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.		 Online

Introduction & Review WAC 246-976 proposed changes and additions
Meeting minutes (PDF)
Presentation (PDF)
December 14, 2020
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.		 Online Review WAC 246-976 proposed changes and additions related to EMS data
Meeting minutes (PDF)
January 13, 2021
10 a.m. to noon		 Canceled Review WAC 246-976 proposed changes and additions related to EMS data
Meeting agenda (PDF)
February 16, 2021
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.		 Online Review WAC 246-976 proposed changes and additions related to EMS data
Meeting agenda (PDF)
March 15, 2021
2 to 4 p.m. 		Online Review WAC 246-976 proposed changes and additions related to EMS data
Public Comment

If you choose, please submit any comment(s) that you have prior to a scheduled meeting, using the department-provided comment form (Word). You may also submit a comment form if you're unable to attend a meeting, but have a concern that you'd like discussed in the meeting. Your cooperation will help ensure that all comments are taken into consideration when final draft rules are adopted.

Proposed changes for comment

Proposed changes will be posted here as they become available. Documents will also be sent through GovDelivery.

Rule-making Process

CR-101 rule inquiry stage – drafting of proposed rules

The Department of Health is currently in the CR-101 phase of rulemaking for EMS data rules in chapter 246-976 WAC. This first phase of rulemaking is the inquiry phase. This phase allows interested parties to participate in the rule development process from the beginning.

CR-102 rule proposal phase – preparing the proposed rules

After a number of workshops, the Department of Health will carefully review and consider all advisory opinions gathered during the rule drafting and comment phases. From this, the department will create proposed rules that will be filed in a CR-102 rules package with the Office of the Code Reviser. This filing will be distributed on our website.

CR-103 – adoption phase of rules

Depending on the outcome of a public hearing that will be scheduled during the CR-102 phase, the department will file a final revised rule with the Office of the Code Reviser as part of the rule adoption phase (CR-103). When the rule becomes effective 31 days from its filing date, the department will notify all stakeholders and interested parties of the official effective date of the revised rules.

Rules adopted

See the Washington State Department of Health rules website for more information on adopted rules within Title 246 WAC.